California ADU rules · Shasta County
Can I Build an ADU in Redding?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Redding. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Redding, to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit by right, plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot. What varies city to city are the local specifics below.
Can you build one?
ADUs allowed
CA state lawYes — by right
ADUs and JADUs are allowed by right in all residential and mixed-use zones; ministerial approval, no hearing.
Units on a single-family lot
CA state law1 ADU + 1 JADU
At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (up to 25% of units) + up to 2 detached
Redding allows only up to 2 detached ADUs per multifamily lot, not 8 as in state law.
Junior ADU (JADU)
CA state lawAllowed
Up to 500 sq ft, within the walls of an existing single-family home (single-family lots only).
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft
Local maximum for detached ADUs is 1,000 sq ft, stricter than state cap.
Max attached ADU size
Local rulegreater of 800 sq ft or 50% of main dwelling
Attached ADU max is the greater of 800 sq ft or 50% of the main dwelling's living area.
Guaranteed minimum size
CA state law800 sq ft
An 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed regardless of FAR/lot-coverage caps; a city also cannot cap an attached ADU below 850 sq ft (1,000 for 2+ bedrooms).
Max JADU size
CA state law500 sq ft
Max height
Local rule16 ft
ADUs up to 16 ft allowed by right; higher ADUs (up to 22/25 ft) require larger setbacks and may require a site development permit.
Setbacks
Side setback
Local rule4 ft
4 ft side setback for ADUs up to 16 ft in height; 10 ft for taller ADUs.
Rear setback
Local rule4 ft
4 ft rear setback for ADUs up to 16 ft in height; 15 ft for taller ADUs.
Front setback
Local rule15 ft minimum; cannot be closer to street than main dwelling unless exception granted
ADUs must be at least 15 ft from front property line and not closer to street than main dwelling.
Separation from main house
CA state lawNone required
No statewide separation requirement between the ADU and the primary dwelling.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
One off-street space per ADU required unless exempted.
Transit parking exemption
Local ruleYes — no parking required near transit & for conversions
No parking required if within 1/2 mile of public transit or other listed exemptions.
Garage-conversion replacement parking
Local ruleNot required
No replacement parking required when garage/carport is converted or demolished for ADU.
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
CA state law60 days
The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleNot required
No owner-occupancy required for ADUs until Jan 1, 2025; after that, owner-occupancy required for either primary or ADU unless state law changes.
Impact-fee waiver
CA state lawWaived under 750 sq ft
An ADU of 750 sq ft or less pays no impact fees (the 750 sq ft threshold itself is exempt under § 66311.5); larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling. JADUs (≤ 500 sq ft) are exempt.
Permits required
Local ruleBuilding permit, Zoning clearance (for nonconforming units)
Building permit always required; zoning clearance required for nonconforming units.
Redding-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Historic resource
Conditions may be imposed if property is listed in the California Register of Historic Places.
Redding limits detached ADUs to 1,000 sq ft and allows only two detached ADUs on multifamily lots. Owner-occupancy is not required for ADUs until 2025, and historic properties may face additional conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Redding?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Redding to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit ministerial (by right), plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot.
How big can an ADU be in Redding?
A detached ADU of at least 1,000 sq ft must be allowed, and an ADU of 800 sq ft can never be zoned out by floor-area or lot-coverage limits. A JADU can be up to 500 sq ft.
What are the setback requirements for an ADU in Redding?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. 15 ft minimum; cannot be closer to street than main dwelling unless exception granted.
Is parking required for an ADU in Redding?
Up to 1 space. No parking can be required within ½ mile of transit, for conversions, or for units inside the primary home. When a garage is converted, replacement parking is not required.
How long does ADU approval take in Redding?
A complete application must be acted on within 60 days, with ministerial (by right) — no public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Redding?
Owner-occupancy: not required. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- RMC § 18.43.140 (Ord. No. 2631, § 1, 12-15-2020)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(2), (G)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(2)(a)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(2)(c)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(4)(a)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(8)
- RMC § 18.43.140(C)(8)(f)
- RMC § 18.43.140(D)
- RMC § 18.43.140(E), (I)
- RMC § 18.43.140(B)
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Redding's ADU rules, drawn from its published ordinance and California ADU law — general information, not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or out of date. Verify the controlling rule for your specific parcel with Redding Planning before relying on it.
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